The defence The Sentimental Softie
“Sincerity is not manipulation.”
The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.
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Washington Square
Drama · Romance · 1997
In 1870s New York, spinster heiress Catherine Sloper is courted by the much younger, penniless Morris Townsend, much to the chagrin of her overprotective father. Catherine must decide whether to spend the rest of her life alone, or marry a man interested in her solely for her inheritence.
Movie details
Washington Square
“She must choose between her father's fortune... Or the man she loves.”
1997 Drama · Romance 1h 55m
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
6.2 / 10
Community rating
In 1870s New York, spinster heiress Catherine Sloper is courted by the much younger, penniless Morris Townsend, much to the chagrin of her overprotective father. Catherine must decide whether to spend the rest of her life alone, or marry a man interested in her solely for her inheritence.
CriticWise case file
What this film says about your taste.
Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.
The archetype split
Who fights over Washington Square?
For the defence
The Sentimental Softie
“You came to feel something, and you will.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Cool Ironist
“Feeling things is a little embarrassing.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Taste neighbourhood
Nearby on the taste map.
TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.
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Great Expectations
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Wuthering Heights
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Wuthering Heights
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The Object of My Affection
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Endless Love
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A privileged girl and a charismatic boy's instant desire sparks a love affair made only more reckless by parents trying to keep them apart.
Elena Undone
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The wife of a pastor who preaches against homosexuality embarks on an affair with a female writer.
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Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
Agnieszka Holland
Written by
Carol Doyle
Jennifer Jason Leigh
Catherine Sloper
Albert Finney
Dr. Austin Sloper
Maggie Smith
Aunt Lavinia Penniman
Ben Chaplin
Morris Townsend
Judith Ivey
Aunt Elizabeth Almond
A
Arthur Laupus
Mr. Almond
Jennifer Garner
Marian Almond
Court is in session
Put Washington Square on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
The prosecution The Cool Ironist
“The strings are showing.”
Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.